Method and plant for enriching a combustible gas mixture in at least one components thereof

ABSTRACT

A method and an apparatus for enriching a combustible gas. The gas mixture is initially flowing in a distribution line at a set pressure. Part of the mixture is bypassed to a separate line where it is then compressed. This compressed stream is then treated in a gas separation unit and is injected back into the distribution system at about the set pressure.

The present invention relates to a method for enriching, in at least a first of its components, a combustible gas mixture comprising at least a second active component and flowing in a gas line at a first pressure.

Such combustible gas lines exist in numerous chemical and petrochemical plants, where they are used to supply burners and other heating stations.

Methods are known for enriching the combustible gas mixture with combustible components available as auxiliary gas at the outlet of active gas production units, the auxiliary gas being added to the gas mixture flowing in the line.

A subject of the present invention is a method for enriching the combustible gas mixture flowing in the line by extracting a second of its components and reinjecting the first component into the line.

To do this according to the invention, the method comprises the following steps:

-   -   bypassing a partial stream from the gas line,     -   compressing this bypass stream to a second pressure above the         first pressure,     -   treating the compressed bypass stream in a gas separation unit         supplied with gas mixture to be separated at a pressure above         the first pressure, advantageously close to the second pressure,         and supplying at a first outlet a mixture rich in said second         active component, and     -   reinjecting the treated stream into the line, from a second         outlet of the separation unit, substantially at the first         pressure.

A further subject of the present invention is an installation for putting this method into practice, comprising:

-   -   a line of combustible gas mixture,     -   a gas separation unit with an inlet for gas mixture to be         separated, an outlet for production gas, an intermediate outlet,         an intermediate inlet connected to the outlet of a compressor of         which the inlet is connected to an upstream bypass point of the         line and to the intermediate outlet of the unit, and an         ancillary outlet connected to a downstream point of the line.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of-an embodiment, given for illustration but not limiting, in connection with the drawing appended hereto in which:

-   -   the single figure diagrammatically shows an installation for         putting into practice the method according to the invention.

The single figure shows a distribution line 1 of a combustible gas mixture generally called “fuel gas” supplying various user stations such as sets of burners 2 for heating active or passive elements of an industrial facility.

In the application considered here, this industrial facility comprises a unit 3, typically of the “PSA” adsorption type, supplying a purified production gas 4, typically hydrogen, to user stations 5 of the facility, from a synthesis gas mixture 6, typically produced by a catalytic reforming unit 7. The unit 3 hence comprises a main inlet 8 receiving the gas 6 at a high pressure and an outlet 9 producing the production gas 4 substantially at this high pressure. The unit 3 further comprises at least one intermediate outlet 10 from which a recycle gas, at a pressure lower than the high pressure, is sent to an intermediate inlet 11 of the unit 3.

According to an aspect of the invention, the intermediate inlet 11 is connected to the outlet of a compressor 12 of which the inlet is selectively connected to the intermediate outlet 10 and to an upstream bypass point 13 of the line 1. Correlatively, the unit 3 comprises an ancillary outlet 14 connected to a downstream injection point 15 of the line 1. More specifically, the unit 3 comprises at least three, typically at least four, adsorbers of which the inlets are selectively connectable to the inlet 8 of gas to be separated and to the intermediate inlet 11 and of which the outlets are selectively connectable to the outlet 9 of production gas and to the intermediate outlet 10.

Thus, according to the method of the invention, a bypassed portion of the combustible gas stream in the line 1 is treated, being compressed in the compressor 12, in the unit 3 as a recycled purge gas from this unit 3, thereby serving to extract hydrogen from this bypass stream to increase the production of hydrogen, and to return, via the auxiliary outlet 14, the treated bypass stream consisting in consequence nearly essentially of hydrocarbons, to reinject these hydrocarbons into the line 1 and thereby increase the heating value of the gas sent to the burners 2.

Typically the pressure in the line 1 is about 6 bar whereas the feed gas pressure 6 at the inlet 8 of the unit 3 is about 25 bar, the compressor 12 having a compression ratio of about 5.

Although the invention has been described in relation to a particular embodiment, it is not limited thereby but is susceptible to modifications and variants which will appear to a person skilled in the art within the framework of the claims below. 

1-6. (canceled)
 7. A method for enriching a combustible gas mixture comprising: a) flowing said gas mixture in a gas line at a first pressure, wherein said gas mixture comprises at least a first component and a second component; b) diverting a portion of said gas mixture; c) compressing said portion to a second pressure greater than said first pressure; d) treating said compressed portion in a gas separation unit wherein said unit is also supplied with a second gas mixture at a pressure greater than said first pressure; e) supplying a mixture rich in said second component at a first outlet of said unit; and f) injecting into said line from a second outlet of said unit, a treated stream at substantially said first pressure, wherein the concentration of said first component is greater in said treated stream than in said gas mixture.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said second component comprises hydrogen.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein said second gas mixture comprises a reforming gas.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein said gas separation unit comprises a unit of the adsorption type.
 11. An apparatus for enriching a combustible gas mixture comprising: a) a gas line for a gas mixture; and b) a gas separation unit, wherein said unit comprises: 1) a first inlet for a second gas mixture; 2) a first outlet; 3) an intermediate outlet; 3) an intermediate inlet wherein said intermediate inlet is connected to the outlet of a compressor and wherein the inlet of said compressor is connected to both an upstream bypass point on said gas line and to said intermediate outlet; 4) a second outlet connected to a downstream point of said line; and c) wherein said enriching comprises: 1) flowing said gas mixture in said gas line at a first pressure, wherein said gas mixture comprises at least a first component and a second component; 2) diverting a portion of said gas mixture; 3) compressing said portion to a second pressure greater than said first pressure; 4) treating said compressed portion in said gas separation unit wherein said unit is also supplied with said second gas mixture at a pressure greater than said first pressure; 5) supplying a mixture rich in said second component at said first outlet of said unit; and 6) injecting into said line from said second outlet of said unit, a treated stream at substantially said first pressure, wherein the concentration of said first component is greater in said treated stream than in said gas mixture.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said unit further comprises at least three adsorbers, wherein the inlets of said adsorbers are selectively connectable to said first inlet and to said intermediate inlet.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the outlets of said adsorbers are selectively connectable to said first outlet and to said intermediate outlet.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said second component comprises hydrogen.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said second gas mixture comprises a reforming gas. 